It appears the brouhaha over SF Pride’s inviting then dis-inviting imprisoned Wikileaks leaker Bradley Manning to be an honorary grand marshal in the June 30 parade has claimed its first high-profile cancelation. Former supervisor Bevan Dufty tells the Bay Area Reporter he’s bowing out as a grand marshal, while choosing not to elaborate on the Manning controversy. That leaves state Attorney General Kamala Harris as the lone political figure among the several remaining grand marshals.
Related: Manning supporters plan a presser and demonstration outside SF Pride’s Mid-Market headquarters tomorrow afternoon at 5:30 to coincide with a meeting of Pride’s board. Press release after the jump.
At last Friday’s SF Pride Community Forum, attended by more than 150 supporters of military whistle-blower, Bradley Manning, the SF Pride Board of Directors heard from over 50 speakers asking that Bradley Manning be reinstated as a Grand Marshal in this year's LGBT Pride Parade. The SF Pride Board agreed to take into consideration what they had heard, to revisit their recission of the honor to Manning, and to come back to the community with their decision within 7 days.
So, this Friday, June 7, on the 7th day, at 5:30pm community activists will be holding a press conference outside Pride’s office to give the press their reaction to their decision. San Francisco Supervisor, David Campos, who urged Pride to call last Friday’s community meeting and also spoke at it requesting that the Board reinstate Manning, has been invited to speak at the press conference.
Also, in its quest to educate the community about Manning, community activists have scheduled a Bradley Manning Teach-in and Discussion for this Saturday, June 8 from 4-6pm at the former Tower Records site at 2278 Market St at Noe. The forum’s target audience is both people who are critical and/or have questions about Manning’s actions as well as those who support him and want more in-depth information. What Bradley Manning did, the specifics about what information he released, its long term effect on US and world events, and the charges of treason and aiding the enemy that he is facing in the US Military Court will be discussed by a line up of speakers including members of the Bradley Manning Support Network. There will also be film clips including the infamous "Collateral Murder" video along with a Q&A. This event is a precursor to Faetopia, a pop-up queer arts and community center that runs June 21 to June 28.
Manning supporters are invited to meet at Howard and Beale on Sunday, June 30 at 10am and march with the Bradley Manning Support Network Pride contingent at the SF Pride Parade.
